davis



(No Model.)

1?. E. DAVIS. FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 431,878. Patented July 8, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANK .E. DAVIS, OF OHARLESTOIVN, NEWV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM "W. HARRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,878, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed April 8, 1890. Serial No. 347,023. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E.-DAVIS, of

Charlestown, in the county of Sullivan, State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escape Ladders, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective of a portion of my improved ladder; Fig. 2, a section alview taken on line at a in Fig.1, and Fig. 3 a perspective View representing the ladder in use.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to folding or collapsible extension-ladders, which are especially adapted for use as fire-escapes and it consists in. certain novel features hereinafter fullyset forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explantion.

In the drawings, A represents the main or lower section of the ladder, and B the upper or sliding section. The section A is constructed of side pieces I), to one edge of which rungs d are pivoted by means of a pin or bolt f, passing through said side pieces. To the lower end of one side piece a hook or latch g is pivoted, and the lower rung d is extended beyond the side piece at h, as shown in Fig. 1, said latch being adapted to hook over said projecting rung and prevent the ladder from accidentally collapsing when open. The upper ladder-section is constructed of side pieces on, connected by pivoted rungs d, in the same manner as the lower section, said upper section being fitted to slide between the side bars I) of the lower ladder-section, as shown in Fig. 3. On the upper end of the side bars of the lower ladder-section strips or bands '5 are secured, said bands partially embracing the side bars of the upper ladder-section and forming ways in which said section slides. A pulley p is journaled in the lower end of each side bar on of the upper ladder-section. A cord g has one end secured in the upper end of a side bar I), said cord passing over the pulleys p, thence over a pulley in a corresponding end of the companion side bar 11, and clownward over a pulleyt in the lower end of said side bar. The end of said cord is secured to a crank-shaft c on the lower rung d of the ladder-section A. By rotating said crank and winding the cord q thereon the ladder-section B may be raised or lowered in its companion section A. A rectangular box or carriage C is fitted to slide between the side bars m of the section B. A cord w is secured to said carriage and passes over a pulley g on the upper rung d of the upper section, said carriage being employed to convey articles to the top of the ladder when in use.

In the use of my improvement, by means of the rope q and crank 01, the upper ladder-section may be raised to any desired height to reach the window or other point D. A pulley 15 on the lower rung engaging a ratchet 16 on said crank prevents the cord unwinding and holds the ladder-sections securely in position. IVhen not in use, the carriage C is removed and the upper ladder-section drawn downward until inclosed between the side bars of the lower ladder-sections.

By detaching the latch g from the rung h the ladder may be collapsed, the side bars occupying the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This enables the ladder to be stored in much less space than ladders of ordinary construction,wherein the rungs are fixed on the side bars.

The side bars of the lower ladder-section adjacent to the rungs d may be provided with a longitudin ally-arran ged flange 17 to prevent the rungs of the upper ladder-section catching on those of the lower section as said sections slide.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a ladder of the character described, a main or body section comprising side bars connected by pivoted rungs, combined with a similarly-constructed upper ladder-section fitted to slide between the side bars of said lower section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a collapsible ladder, two side bars connected by rungs pivoted to an edge thereof, one of said rungs being extended beyond the side bar, and a latch pivoted to said side bar and adapted to engage said rung, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a collapsible ladder, the ladder A, comprising the side bars I), connected by rungs d, pivoted on bolts f, in combination with the latch g, pivoted to one of said side bars and adapted to engage a rung, as h, and lock said ladder when open, substantially as described. 1

4. In a device of the character described, a

main ladder-section comprising side bars pro-' vided with a longitudinal flange and connected by pivoted rungs, in combination with the upper ladder-section comprising side bars connected by pivoted rungs and fitted to slide on said main section, a cord and crank for actuating said upper section, and a latch for locking said sections when open, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the collapsible ladder A, provided with the strips 2', and pulleys a t, in combination with the sliding ladder B, provided with the pulleys p, the cord q, passing over said pulleys, and the crank '11 for Winding said crank, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the collapsible ladder A, provided with the strips 2', and flanges 17, in combination with the collapsible sliding ladder B, provided with the pulley 'y, the car 0, and rope w, and mechanism, substantially as described, for actuating said sliding ladder.

7. In a device of the character described, a main ladder-section comprising side bars connected by pivoted rungs and sliding ladder-sections comprising side bars connected by pivoted rungs and fitted to slide between the side bars of said main section, mechanism for raising and lowering said sliding section, and a latch for locking the rungs to the side bars when open, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK E. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE OLCOTT, HERBERT W. BOND. 

